Nat's Notes #6 The Case for Pessimism (Schopenhauer's Essays and Aphorisms)
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Aug 25, 2023 Exploring Schopenhauer's philosophy of pessimism and the denial of the will as the root of suffering. Discussing the origins of pessimism and the influence of metaphysics on Schopenhauer's ethics. Emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and note-taking. Distinguishing between writers who write for ideas and those who write for writing's sake. Examining the case for pessimism and the need to embrace the struggle in life.
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Schopenhauer's Metaphysical Dualism
- Schopenhauer posits two layers: the body as appearance and the will as its essence, with the will being primary and unconscious.
- This "will to live" drives egoistic behavior, leading to universal conflict and suffering as life’s default state.
Life Defined by Suffering
- Life is primarily suffering, with happiness defined solely as the absence of suffering.
- Humans focus on misfortunes and rarely notice the agreeable, due to psychological bias towards what frustrates their will.
Human Life’s Twin Poles
- Want and boredom dominate human life as twin poles, unlike animals who don’t experience true boredom.
- Increased desires for pleasure paradoxically lead to greater suffering through heightened boredom and dissatisfaction.